Impaired sexual function in men is a well documented complication of diabetes. Several studies have shown that men with diabetes are at increased risk especially for erectile dysfunction and that it is related to longer duration of diabetes, poor metabolic control, and the presence of diabetic complications.

Although women run the same risk to develop diabetic complications, sexual problems of women with diabetes have received much less attention in research and clinical practice.

Recent observations suggest that women with diabetes are at as much of an increased risk for sexual dysfunction as men. Sexual dysfunction in men is related to somatic and psychological factors, whereas in women with diabetes, psychological factors are more predominant.